Piece of My Heart, A [Paperback]

Shirley Lauro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 2011 | ISBN-10: 0573693331 | ISBN-13: 978-0573693335

Full Length, Drama

Characters: 1 male, 6 female

Unit set

This is a powerful, true drama of six women who went to Viet Nam five nurses and a country western singer booked by an unscrupulous agent to entertain the troops. The play portrays each young woman before, during, and after her tour in the war torn jungle and ends as each leaves a personal token at The Wall in Washington.

A Piece of My Heart premiered in New York at Manhattan Theatre Club, and now has enjoyed over 1000 productions here and abroad. It has recently been named "The most enduring play on Vietnam in the nation," by The Vietnam Vets Association.

"There have been a number of plays dealing with Viet Nam, but none with the direct, emotional impact of Ms. Lauro's work."-N.Y. Times

"Brought [the audience] to tears... and a standing ovation."-Variety

"A riveting, rending dramatic experience."-Louisville Courier Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Samuel French, Inc. (February 22, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0573693331
• ISBN-13: 978-0573693335
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You should read this book with a box of Kleenex, December 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Piece of My Heart, A (Paperback)

Our high school put onn this deeply moveing and emotional play. The story of 5 nurses, a singer, and a man goes from the present to the past and back again. No one wins in Veitanm and in a way, everyone dies. The man symbolizes everything bad, and the women, the human side of an inhumane war.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK, but workable into a thing of beauty, March 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Piece of My Heart, A (Paperback)

The Lafayette High School Theatre company presented this play to conclude the Missouri State Thespian Conference on January 6th, 2001. While the play itself is not the best piece of literature, the cast and crew molded it into a living, breathing monument to the men and women of the Vietnam war. The show recieved a standing ovation that started before the curtain call and lasted until the house lights were broguht up. The play recounts the lives of six women and one "all american men," and their stories from the war. At several points in the play, even the crew, who had seen the production several times over, were shaken with misty eyes. Indeed, even in an auditorium full of seasoned actors and techies, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. I recomend this play to those who are up to the emotional challange, as well as the techincal. I applaud my fellow Thespians!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a dry-eye in the house., March 20, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Piece of My Heart, A (Paperback)

My high school is currently in pre-production for A Piece of My Heart and I am on Sound Crew. Just reading it, you get a sense of great intensity and now that our first performance is in two days, I've seen it rehearsed dozens of times and you wouldn't believe the feeling you get watching it. We've had Viet Nam Veterans come to the school and guest speak through the week and every single one of them has said that the emotion and the scenes portrayed in this play are very reminiscent of the War. I haven't seen one person, who's sat through the whole thing, leave without the shedding of tears. It is very intense and very good, and if you haven't got the chance to see it, find it! Read the book! Something!